Bangkok joins forces with Netherlands for eco-friendly urban mobility

[webfact]

Bangkok has coordinated with the Dutch concept to design Bangkok into a walkable and cycling city.

 

Assoc. Prof. Wisanu Supsompon, along with Sanon Wangsrangboon, the Deputy Governors of Bangkok and Remco Johannes van Wijngaarden, the Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to Thailand, attended a presentation of ideas and group activities discussion at the ACTIVE Workshop in Bangkok at Rattanakosin Room at Bangkok City Hall in Phra Nakhon District.

 

Deputy Governor Wisanu said…

“Bangkok City hopes that the concept of becoming a walkable and cycling city must be realized, not just designed. Right now we have a policy that we are working on which is Bike Sharing, with the first important policy for travelling being the First and Last Mile, travelling well from the starting point to the destination to promote easier use of bicycles.”

 

Woman is biking over the street crossing Plantage Middenlaan, Netherlands. Image via Unsplash (Credit: Fons Heijnsbroek)

The Ambassador of the Netherlands expressed his admiration to see everyone participating in the Workshop together to make cycling in Bangkok better. He had ridden a bicycle in Bangkok and believed that it was possible in areas in Bangkok where everyone worked together to improve and solve problems, which are important areas for the city’s development.

 

The Netherlands Embassy is pleased to support Bangkok. Organising the ACTIVE Workshop in Bangkok this time, Bangkok is in cooperation with the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management of the Netherlands under the project “Alliance for Cycling and Walking Towards International Vitality and Empowerment” (ACTIVE).

 

Cycling Lane at Benchakitti Park, Bangkok. Image via Unsplash (Credit: Rutpratheep Nilpechr)

It is to support experts from the Dutch Cycling Embassy to provide knowledge on the infrastructure development, behaviour, and organizational structure of the cycling community to attendees. More than 60 representatives from various agencies attended to apply their knowledge about Dutch cities to Bangkok.

 

Press Release

 

by Thaiger

ACTIVE Workshop in Bangkok.

 

 

Source: The Thaiger 2024-03-04

 

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[KhunLA]

Nice idea, but 10 million people need to drive on the road, not walk or cycle.  Might work in a couples small communities, or tourist districts, but Krung Thep isn't set up like that.

 

Can't even keep the motorbikes off the walkways, so how do they plan on keeping cars out of the bike lanes.  There are very few roads that can be closed to vehicle traffic.

Edited March 4 by KhunLA

[JoePai]

Bangkok will never be a 'walkable and cycling city' - period !

[ikke1959]

If you want to commit suicide go to Bangkok and walk or ride a bike.... The traffic rules don't exist anywhere in Thailand, so danger is at every corner of the street or zebracrossing. Red lights are ignored and than they want me to ride a bike?? Even on the pavements it is dangerous as motorcycles drive on it or are blocked by restaurant tables, foodstalles or markets..  And of course it nice to have the dirty air in your lungs.Maybe first solve a lot of these problems before spending a lot of money for something that doesn't work

[ChrisY1]

The 2 quickest way to die in Thailand....1: Getting out of your broken down car on an overhead expressway...and 2: Riding a bicycle on the roads....almost as though some drivers try to hit them! 

I was going to add pedestrian crossings..oh and of course.....wait...there's many more ways to die than 2:)

Edited March 4 by ChrisY1

[Moonlover]

To get into Thai Watsadu in Sakon Nakhon you have to cross a segregated cycle lane that was laid down during the cycling frieze period. Remember 'Bike for mum' and Bike for Dad?'

 

A while ago whilst crossing the road to access the entrance I had a very close encounter with a motorcyclist, riding against the traffic flow and in the clearly demarcated cycle lane. One in which I don't think I've ever seen a cyclist by the way. And this was in quiet, sleepy Issan, not on the frantic streets of Bangkok.

 

In Holland, cyclists have priority on the highways. Our well meaning Dutch friends have a lot to learn about the mindset the average Thai road user if they ever hope to introduce their ideas here.

[Tropicalevo]

3 hours ago, webfact said:

Bangkok City hopes that the concept of becoming a walkable and cycling city must be realized,

Average temp/humidity in Amsterdam v average temp/humidity in Bangkok???

Then we can consider the pollution in each city.

 

Sorry Mr Deputy Governor Wisanu - never going to happen.

[john donson]

bike ride, where you cannot even safely cross a zebra crossing with green light

[rudi49jr]

Walkable and cyclable. Ain’t going to happen if they don’t fix the air pollution first. And create pedestrian and cycling paths/lanes that are completely separate from roads for motorized vehicles, otherwise the carnage will be incredible. And last but certainly not least: devise a way to make it impossible for motorcycles to use said pedestrian and cycling paths/lanes. Good luck with that!

[hotchilli]

5 hours ago, webfact said:

Bangkok has coordinated with the Dutch concept to design Bangkok into a walkable and cycling city.

[Peterphuket]

5 hours ago, JoePai said:

Bangkok will never be a 'walkable and cycling city' - period !

And that is just as well, the pictures show Amsterdam, and with all its restrictions and ridiculous parking fees and many closures, that city is no longer livable.
Many walk out of there screaming because of the frustrations.

[Peterphuket]

It is unthinkable that Bangkok will join forces with Amsterdam because of "environmentally friendly urban mobility"
That city is now no longer livable with all its ridiculous regulations and restrictions.

[impulse]

I'm going to take the contrarian view here and express some optimism that they can improve BKK's last mile using bicycles.   Maybe not for extended travel, but certainly the last mile.

 

Going the last mile from the BTS/MRT to a nearby destination is doable, though probably not everywhere in town.  I used to ride my bikes all over the Asoke area with no white knuckle incidents.  Even rode a tadpole recumbent 3 wheeler after my bypass surgery.  Enjoyed the heck out of loading the bikes (2 wheelers) onto the longtail boats to tool around the elephant ear, and also Lumpini and Q Sirikit parks.  Which, of course, required riding the streets in between.  So I'm optimistic...

 

[Freddy42OZ]

9 hours ago, JoePai said:

Bangkok will never be a 'walkable and cycling city' - period !

 

It's totally walkable and also easy to cycle in.  

[zhounan]

The idea is very interesting.

 

 

But Bangkok is not any city of Netherlands, in terms of population, urbanisation, climate, businesses and style of life.

 

My suggestion would be try it in a peripheral city, Trang for example is perfect. But Thai policymakers and Sino-Thai billionaires seem to see no further than Bangkok.

Edited March 4 by zhounan

[carlf]

Everyone knows how dangerous it is to either walk across the street or ride a bike in the street in Bangkok.  I don't believe that this is really a problem with a lack of laws; it's a problem with lack of respect for the current laws by drivers in Bangkok.  It seems to me that the first thing that Bangkok needs to do is enforce the existing laws.  Police need to be seen fining drivers massively with stiff penalties (better yet... the fine should be in proportion to the driver's revenue to make it truly painful).  Afterwards they can start considering investments like bike and walking paths.

[rickudon]

Pollution. Heat. Humidity. Dangerous roads. Four reasons why bikes are a bad idea. Not that keen on walking in those conditions any distance.